Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to its visually intrusive siting in a highly scenic landscape, representing inappropriate backland development, and the failure to demonstrate compliance with current wastewater treatment standards.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed dwelling's elevated siting would result in an intrusive encroachment into a highly scenic rural landscape, contrary to policies protecting Areas of High Scenic Quality (AHSQ).
- The development represents an inappropriate form of ad-hoc piecemeal backland development that would set an undesirable precedent for further one-off housing in an area with limited absorption capacity.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that the proposed wastewater treatment system complies with the EPA Code of Practice 2021, as the submitted site characterisation report was based on outdated trial hole data from 2020.
Cited Policies (CDP)
HOU 42HOU 47IU 18HOU 41Section 8.12.2Section 13.9.4Section 13.9.7NBG 37Table 3.5
Decision Document Summary
Brian Savage sought outline permission for a new dwelling house and wastewater treatment system at Rath Lower, Riverstown, Co. Louth, on a site straddling Rural Policy Zones 1 and 2. Although the applicant successfully demonstrated a local housing need under the County Development Plan criteria, the application was refused primarily because the elevated and exposed nature of the site was deemed visually intrusive within a sensitive landscape. Furthermore, the Planning Authority determined that t...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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